I did not know how to reply to this.
For a few moments, everything around me turned silent in the dark forest. Right after, as though he snapped back, Mar Hast, my loyal knight growled, "You insolent! Do you know who this is?"
"Who?" Ratabat asked, without concern.
"The King of Astagha, our Guardian and the Arcane of Holy Apple!"
"Ah..." Now Ratabat had lost words to utter in my stead. I could swear that he was thinking of something like, 'how the hell is this apple the king...' which was exactly my question few hours ago, but these spirits and monsters managed to convince me that all of this is not part of a huge prank.
"You never saw me before. I forgive your stupidity. Now answer." I again asked the same question.
To be fair, dragons were my fancy. Whenever the stories of old man brought dragons in it, I felt an instinctive excitement. How majestic they are! Crystal scales and red wings, the ability of breathing fire and living as the fear of all lands, hoarding upon mountains of gold! If Ratabat were to be something like that, he would instantly become my favourite fellow in Astagha.
"I apologise for my naivety, o Blessed Arcane. But I am not a dragon. I am merely a shapeshifter who can transform into anything." replied Ratabat, as I saw his eyes constricted. Perhaps, he was guilty? Afraid? Or still suspicious...
Sigh...
"I see. What brings you?"
Ratabat took a deep breathe.
"You have invited spirits throughout the world to the Forest of Astagha. I am ignorant as to the knowledge of the reason behind it. However, as one of the last remaining Arcanes of the first generation I acknowledge you as among the strongest if not the strongest being currently alive on Earth. Centuries before, I was betrayed by humans..." I stopped Ratabat before he could finish.
"Wait, wait. Come inside my palace. Everyone else, stay outside."
"Sure, thank you O King. Thank you for your Grace."
As the others remained silent complying to this command, I turned my head and stepped to reach my throne again. It is a cozy place, I must not lie. More importantly, I wanted to talk to him secretly before others could.
While of course that hellish wizard is the main cause, I was, for whatever reason, yet not satisfied that the spirits in the forest are all definitely loyal to me.
Perhaps I would get insight from Ratabat?
I said, as we entered my palace and Mar Hast stood as the guard of the entrance, making me rather confident that Kavest had no way of sneaking in, "Continue your story."
"Surely, as you wish."
---
Senate of Falintera, First Sea.
---
A wide-eyed man with a depressing look stood leaning over a certain pillar. There was another person ahead of him, but that was a child. A young girl who had not yet reached adulthood.
"Little girl, where is your father?" asked the man, gently smiling though the face showed he did not feel the least happiness.
"Who are you... How long were you standing here...?" the girl did not respond and rather shivered at the sudden appearance of this stranger.
"Your father owes me a game. Please, I have not much time."
"A game? I... He is not here, actually."
She tried to be polite with her second response.
"I see... That's unfortunate... Can I ask something again?"
"Please."
"Are you a human?"
The teenage girl's heart got heavy as she heard that. Scared, the brows of her eyes nearly met.
"You.. Really know my father..."
"He left you alone. Don't you think he is indeed a traitor?"
"None of you understand him. My father betrayed nothing!"
"Nothing? Not his race, friends, family, himself? Let's trust you. What is the real story then?"
The girl noticed that the depression from the man's face was erased. His wide-eyes were then locked unto her. A look of... greed.
"I can't tell you."
"Indeed. You can't tell me. He has a seal on you."
"..."
She knew that the man had encompassed her. The stranger, she understood instinctively that she was purely outmatched despite being a fourth generation monster's direct descent.
However, something surreal happened instead.
"I think I will have to eat an apple."
Said the man as he turned illusory, in an instant as a silvery flame grasped his body to its entirety. Then he vanished like he was never there to begin with.
It happened so fast that the girl was left confused wondering if this was a hallucination or reality.